Stories Behind the Stones
Forged in the enduring spirit of reverence, adoration and gratitude, the Mandir is a humble tribute to the inexpressible majesty and unbounded glory of the Divine. Externally and internally, structural features such as columns and beams are profusely carved with traditional Hindu motifs of auspiciousness, peace and piety.
Each carving tells a story from Hinduism and from the Swaminarayan tradition.
Mandovar
Exterior Edifice
The exterior wall of the Mandir, known as the mandovar, houses over 130 murtis of various divine manifestations and celestial beings of Hinduism.
The upper level of the mandovar houses various depictions based on various themes.
- Gandharvas, who are celestial beings known for their musical ability, sit atop each pillar playing traditional Indian instruments, such as the veena, sarangi, pungi, pakhavaj, and dhol. In Hindu tradition, music is a divine art form and plays a key role in festivals.
- According to the Shilpa-Prakash (a 9th century architectural treatise), Surasundari embody the values that a disciple should embrace or remove before entering the mandir to be worthy of worshipping God.
- The wall around the shrine which houses Bhagwan Shri Ram has depictions of the ten prominent incarnations of Bhagwan Shri Vishnu.
- The wall around the shrine which houses Bhagwan Shri Shankar has depictions from the Ellora Caves based on the Shiv Puran, such as Gajasursamhara and Andhakasura Vadh.
- You will also see women performing ancient martial arts, as noted in the Dhanurveda.
The base of the mandovar is known as a jagati, as the weight of the Mandir is on the base. The jagati houses various geometric symbols from ancient Mandirs around India.
The Mandir has hidden secrets in the smallest of areas. Gavaksh refers to the decorative closed windows that embellish the mandovar. Jharukha describes the small balconies that extend from the upper floors.
Each of these balconies and windows carries its own narrative - each depicting a manifestation of Bhagwan Shri Vishnu.
Stambh
Pillars
Supporting the ensuing structure is a forest of intricately sculpted pillars. From their base to their capitals (‘heads’), each one is embellished with delicate figures and themes from Hindu scriptures. Other columns in the upper sanctum feature natural and geometric motifs. The themes of pillars include:
- Pillar of Sacred Rivers
- Pillars of Bhagwan Shri Vishnu
- Pillar of Bhagwan Shri Shankar
- Pillar of Ramayan
- Pillar of Krishna-Leela
- Pillar of Adityas
- Pillar of Creation
- Pillar of Shrimad Bhagavatam
- Pillar of Diversity
- Pillar of Ancient Art
The base of the pillars are known as the ahvaana patta, or the ‘invocation segment.’ The base usually contains a kalash, an auspicious pot, symbolizing auspiciousness. The pillars around the central dome have sacred images of various devis of Hinduism. Revered in Hinduism, a Devi is seen as an embodiment of the Mother of the Universe, the Divine Feminine and the divine source of life.
Ghummat
Central Dome
Ashta means 'eight' in Sanskrit. Dikpāla combines Dik, which means 'direction,' and Pāla, which means 'protector.’ Ashta-Dikpāla collectively refers to the 'eight guardians of the directions.'Ashta-Dikpāla is a significant part of Hindu tradition as it places great importance on the directional alignment based on the Vastu Shastra, the Hindu scripture of architecture and design.
The murtis in the central dome are placed in the cardinal direction they correspond with. It is basically an ancient compass
For example, the central shrine is housed in the East direction, hence as you face the central sanctum, you will find Indradev and Suryadev splitting the East direction in the central dome. Indradev is the guardian of the East. Suryadev, or the Sun, rises in the East.
Chhat
Ceiling Tiles
The Mandir renowned for its intricate details, including its 75 ceiling tiles that showcase 39 unique designs. These unique designs are based on traditional symbols and geometric patterns found around India, such as:
- Padma (Lotus Motifs), such as the mahapadma, kumuda, padmaksa, utpala
- Nabhichanda (Concentric Ribbon Recesses), such as nabhivithi, nābhioru, kola, gandhara
- Sabha-marga (Diagonal Beam Frameworks), such as sabhapadma, sabhamandaraka, mani, vicitra
- Mandaraka (Celestial Projections), such as vyoma, vyomanka, vyomaksha, mahabimba
Parikrama/Pradakshina
Around the Shrine
When you visit the Mandir, you will notice individuals walking clockwise around the central shrine, chanting the name of God. This is known as pradakshina. This ritual consolidates the understanding that God is the center of one's life.
Lining the walls of the corridor are 50 murtis (sacred images) of extraordinary individuals - swamis, sages, poets, spiritual luminaries and devotees from diverse walks of life. Despite their diverse backgrounds, all of the individuals are an example on how one can learn and grow on the spiritual path. These include:
- Hindu philosophers, such as Adi Shankaracharyaji, Shri Ramanujacharyaji, Shri Vallabhacharyaji and Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
- The parents and nephews of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
- The senior swamis of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, known as the Paramhansa, who were multi-talented, yet offered their life to Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
- The brahmacharis of Bhagwan Swaminarayan are individuals who have chosen to dedicate their lives to spiritual practice while adhering to a celibate lifestyle.
- Individuals who have dedicated their lives to furthering Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s philosophical tradition.
- The devotees of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, who were known for their simplicity, service, and spirituality.
- The parents of Gunatitanand Swami.
- The devotional poets of India, who composed poems and couplets, which left an indelible mark on the spiritual landscape of India.
Additionally, nine mini shrines adorn the walls, each consecrated to divinities presiding over the cardinal and inter-cardinal directions, enveloping the central sanctum in divine protection and cosmic order.
